Course Overviews

The Master’s course in Applied Psychology is designed to provide students with a general awareness of the problems of applying psychology, a knowledge of skills required to apply it effectively and a detailed understanding of their chosen focus of application. The themes of analysis, intervention and evaluation are central to the structure and philosophy of the course. The core modules provide training in research methods and professional issues. Optional modules enable the further development of these competencies and knowledge while enabling students to consider their application in specified content areas through the study of applied modules and an extended piece of empirical research.
The course provides a preparatory training for those intending to apply for other more specialised postgraduate professional courses in psychology and for those intending to pursue a career in which psychological expertise of a high level is necessary or beneficial.

Course Content and Structure

The course lasts for one year and is full-time. However, the course timetable may allow students, with the support of an employer, to organise their work schedule around their course attendance commitments.

The following two core modules are compulsory and will be offered every year: Philosophical and Professional Issues in Applied Psychology, and Research Methodology and Statistics.
A range of optional applied modules will be offered each year and students must take a total of four of these modules. Modules will be offered in a range of areas representing health, organisational and clinical psychology and will vary from year to year. The following is the current list of approved optional modules for 2015/2016*:

Theory of Psychotherapy

Introduction to Psychometrics

Applied Psychology

Counselling Skills

Psychology Applied to Lifespan Behavioural and Emotional Problems

Issues in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology

Issues in Clinical Psychology and Intellectual Disability

Applied Forensic Psychology

(*optional modules will be offered subject to staff and timetabling availability)

In addition students will be required to submit a dissertation based on an empirical investigation of a topic in applied psychology.

Entry Requirements

Applicants to the course will be required to hold a minimum of an upper second class honours degree in psychology or its equivalent from a recognised university course, which confers eligibility for membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland or equivalent professional body in the case of overseas applicants.

How to Apply

The closing date for applications for entry in September will normally be 31st March each year. Applicants must apply online here.Please note applicants will be permitted 5 working days after the deadline of 31st March to upload all prescribed supporting documentation to the online application system via the TCD website. Applications that are incomplete or missing any supporting documents after 5 working days will not be rejected but it should be noted that precedence when allocating places on the course will be afforded to those applicants who submitted in entirety on time.

Useful Links

For information about professional accreditation requirements, please see the Psychological Society of Ireland website.
For general information about postgraduate studies in the College, please see the College Graduate Studies Office pages.